The official beginning of free agency is set to kick off on Wednesday afternoon. Through the first two days of the unofficial legal tampering period, the Bengals have made a few moves and shored up a few spots. But, even with those signings, the Bengals roster is still lacking. Obviously, the draft will be used to add talent. However, the Bengals are not going to hit on every single pick, and, as of the beginning of the league year, the team only has six picks.
ESPN Senior NFL Writer Mike Clay has unit grades for the league, and the Bengals look good in a few spots (quarterback, wide receiver) while a handful of units are lacking. All in all, as it stands, Cincinnati has the ninth-best roster, carried by the ninth-best offense. The defense, unsurprisingly, is graded as the 23rd-best in the NFL, easily the worst in the AFC North. And that’s with Trey Hendrickson still on the roster.
The free agent pool is getting shallow, and there are a few players still out there who can step in and help in 2025. But there aren’t many.
Updated 2025 NFL Unit Grades through the latest moves pic.twitter.com/ffFULYSOGf
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 11, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals Roster Has Clear Unaddressed Deficiencies
Deja Vu: Protect Joe Burrow
The unit that is tied for the worst on the roster is the offensive line. Massive shocker.
The tackle positions are settled. Orlando Brown, Jr., when he was healthy, was solid. Amarius Mims looked like a rookie but had flashes of what he could be. Ted Karras was, hands down, the best lineman on the team last year. It’s the two guards that’s the biggest concern.
As of now, the Bengals have Cordell Volson, Cody Ford, Jaxson Kirkland, and Tashawn Manning on the roster. Considering the guards were the weakness last year, the unit is currently worse. Volson has been the starter over the last few seasons and has outplayed his expectations. Considering he was a fourth-round pick from the FCS, those expectations were not high. He was an older prospect, so he was closer to his ceiling than not. Ford was not good, nor has he been good. However, he’s a body, and the Bengals signed him to a two-year, $6 million deal. Sure, he was better when filling in at left guard when Mims was healthy, but being better than he was at tackle is an easy bar to clear.
In free agency, it’s been reported that the Bengals are interested in former Chicago Bear, Teven Jenkins. A former popular pick in the 2021 draft, the Bengals have a chance to right a proverbial wrong, considering the team could have picked him with the 38th pick. Alas, the Bengals traded back, Jenkins went to Chicago, and the Bengals picked Jackson Carman, who was cut before his rookie contract was up. Is Jenkins Quenton Nelson? No. Is he a significant upgrade at guard? Absolutely.
Other options are former Bengal, Kevin Zeitler, Dalton Risner, Brandon Scherff, and Will Hernandez. Ideally, the team signs at least two free agents and adds a draft pick. Donovan Jackson, Marcus Mbow, and Tate Ratledge are a few often-picked interior offensive linemen in mock drafts. Time will tell. Joe Burrow says sacks don’t bother him. Lining up Volson and Ford at guard may test that.
Draft Whiffs at Corner
Tied with the offensive line as the worst unit on the Bengals roster is the cornerbacks. In term of athleticism and talent, the Bengals seem to be set with the likes of Cam Taylor-Britt, D.J. Turner, and Dax Hill. However, the reason why this unit is taking such a knock is the fact that both Turner and Hill suffered season-ending injuries last year. Plus, Mike Hilton is not currently on the roster.
Taylor-Britt was very hot-and-cold last year. In some instances, he looked like that lock-down corner the Bengals expected from their 60th overall pick. Over 17 games, CTB amassed 77 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and three interceptions, including a pick-six against the Steelers in Week 13. In other instances, he was routinely picked on as a weakness. Even then, if you buy into Pro Football Focus, he was pretty consistent with his first two seasons.
Turner and Hill battled it out for that CB2 role last year. Hill won the battle but was knocked out after five games. Turner made it 11 games.
Behind them, there’s a drop-off, as expected. The team brought back Marco Wilson as depth, and, to this point, that’s about it.
When healthy, this grade could be underselling the unit. Clay mentioned in a different thread that injury does knock it down.
Ideally, Hilton finds his way back. He’s one of the best run-defending corners and has been a leader on the defense despite just being a slot corner. The rest of the free agent market is not reassuring, either. Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson are the best corners younger than 30 at this point. The Bengals will likely draft a corner. However, with just six picks, they’re going to need to nail it.
Still Trying to Replace Jessie Bates
NEVER forget
• The Bengals drafted Jessie Bates III
• He became exactly who they wanted/thought he could become
• Didn’t pay him to keep him on the team
Makes no sense. Do better. pic.twitter.com/NlPZxKx3zd
— Bengalscentre (@benga1scentre) February 27, 2025
Remember when the Bengals messed around with Jessie Bates and let him walk to make sure they had money to extend Tee Higgins? The team is still scrambling to replace him.
The gamble on Geno Stone failed. Jordan Battle has had flashes but, for some reason, Lou Anarumo elected to play Vonn Bell 708 defensive snaps. Bell, who came back on a veteran minimum deal, was nothing like what he was in his first Bengals stint. Daijahn Anthony played all of 11 snaps and was the target of much ire after his controversial pass interference on 4th and 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
There has been little rumblings linking the Bengals to a free-agent safety. Justin Blackmon could be on their radar while the top players are on the wrong side of 30, like Justin Simmons and Rayshawn Jenkins. Xavier Watts is a popular second-round pick among Bengals mock drafts due to the Al Golden connection. If the team wants to get a home-run hitter in the first round, Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori could be the move (after a trade back, of course).
Room For Improvement
Saying the Bengals’ roster is lacking is not groundbreaking. Joe Burrow‘s MVP season was wasted, and that dead horse has been beaten to Hell and back. In addition to guard, corner, and safety, running back, tight end, and defensive line (as a whole).
Behind Chase Brown, yeah, the running backs do not provide optimism. However, needing a running back is not the end of the world because this year’s NFL Draft class is stacked. Rating the tight ends low is fair. Drew Sample is not a pass-catcher, and Mike Gesicki is just another wide receiver. However, the unit is fine. The Bengals don’t utilize their tight ends to the extent that they need multiple playmakers.
Defensive line is a known issue. Trey Hendrickson is still on the roster (and should remain if the Bengals want to have a hope at a half-decent defense). Outside of him, yikes.
Cincinnati did bring back Joseph Ossai as depth and finally signed a nose tackle in TJ Slaton, who is a great run defender but adds nothing to the pass rush. EDGE and defensive tackle are needed in the draft. Walter Nolen has been a popular first-round pick, but Mike Green and James Pearce, Jr. are possibilities.
All in all, there is still a lot of work to be done if the Bengals are going to get back to the playoffs.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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